aller



y 7, 1963 E. R. ALLER 3,088,778

RAILWAY HOPPER CARS FOR TRANSPORTING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

INVENTOR. EDMUND R. ALLEI? BY $4 1. mu C4 2 '7 AUYS May 7, 1963 E. R. ALLER 3,088,778

Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 d N O3 2 ca 8 Q INVENfOR. EDMUNU R. ALLER y 7, 1963 E. R. ALLER 3,088,778

RAILWAY HOPPER CARS FOR TRANSPORTINQGRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EDMUND R. ALLER RAILWAY HOPPER CARS FOR TRANSPORTING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed 001;. 25, 1961 E. R. ALLER May 7, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EDMUND R. ALLER J ATTYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,688,778 Patented May 7, 1963 3,088,778 RAILWAY HGPPER CAR FOR TRANSPORTING GRANULAR MATERIAL Edmund R. Aller, Portage, Ind, assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 1th, a

corporation of New York Filed Oct. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 147,577 6 Ciairns. (Cl. 302-52) The present invention relates to railway hopper cars for transporting granular material, and more particularly to such cars incorporating outlet nozzles of the general construction and arrangement of that disclosed in the copending application of Edmund R. Aller, Serial No. 140,- 936, filed September 26, 196-1.

It is a general object of the invention to provide in a railway hopper car for transporting finely divided or granular material, such, for example, as flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like, an improved and simplified pneumatic unloading system so that a pair of individual storage hoppers incorporated in the body of the car and arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation with respect to each other may be simultaneously unloaded through a pair of bottom discharge outlets respectively provided therein, without interference with each other, and without overloading of the unloading system.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a railway hopper car, including a body provided with structure defining a pair of laterally spaced-apart storage hoppers therein, an improved arrangement of a pair of outlet nozzles respectively carried by the pair of storage hoppers, and a single conduit system commonly con nected to the pair of outlet nozzles and terminating in a pair of fixtures respectively disposed at the opposite sides of the body, wherein each of the outlet nozzles incorporates automatic valve mechanism that is normally operated into its open position so long as there is granular material to be unloaded in the associated one of the storage hoppers and that is operated into its closed position in response to suction in the associated conduit system after all of the granular material in the associated one of the storage hoppers has been unloaded therefrom, and wherein each one of the fixtures mentioned may be selectively connected to a suction conduit for the unloading purpose, so that the granular material stored in each of the storage hoppers may be unloaded from the one fixture, and wherein the other of the fixtures mentioned may be selectively controlled to supply conveying air into the conduit system for the unloading purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway hopper car of the character described, wherein each of the outlet nozzles includes a casing provided with a bottom discharge opening therein and an associated bottom cover removably carried by the associated casing so that the granular material may be unloaded by gravity from the associated one of the storage hoppers through the casing of the outlet nozzle thereof when the bottom cover is removed from covering relation with respect to the bottom discharge opening therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway hopper car of the character described, wherein each of the outlet nozzles comprises a casing carried by the associated storage hopper and disposed below the bottom outlet thereof and communicating therewith, a suction tube extending through the lower portion of the casing for unloading the granular material from the associated storage hopper through the casing, the intermediate section of the tube being disposed within the casing and having a valve port provided in the bottom thereof, a valve element arranged in the bottom of the casing below the valve port and cooperating therewith, whereby the interior of the tube is in communication with the lower portion of the casing when the valve element occupies its open position with respect to the valve port and the interior of the tube is cut-off from communication with the lower portion of the casing when the valve element occupies its closed position with respect to the valve port, and actuating means for selectively operating the valve element between its open and closed positions with respect to the valve port, wherein the valve element is operated by the actuating means into its open position with respect to the valve port so long as there is granular material in the associated storage hopper to be unloaded therefrom, and wherein the valve element is operated by the actuating means into its closed position with respect to the valve port in response to suction in the tube after all of the granular material in the associated storage hopper has been unloaded therefrom through the casing and into the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway hopper car of the character described, wherein the pair of fixtures that are respectively disposed at the opposite sides of the body thereof are respectively directly carried by the outer ends of the pair of tubes respectively incorporated in the pair of outlet nozzles, and wherein the pair of fixtures respectively carry a pair of removable closure members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a railway hopper car of the character described, wherein the closure members are of the quick attachment-detachment type, and further comprising a pair of hangers respectively carried by the outlet nozzles and respectively carrying the closure members, wherein each of the hangers accommodates both ready placement and ready removal of the associated closure member with respect to the associated fixture and prevents loss of the associated closure member from the associated nozzle after removal thereof from the associated fixture.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the railway hopper car, whereby the above-outlined and aditional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a railway hopper car embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the closure members carried on the outer end of one of the nozzles incorporated in the railway hopper car, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged plan view of one of the outlet nozzles incorporated in the railway hopper car, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the outlet nozzle, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line -6-6 in PEG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged lateral sectional view of the outlet nozzle, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a constructional detail of the outlet nozzle, taken within the circle designated 8 in FIG. 6, and illustrating a porous plug that may be arranged in the diaphragm incorporated therein;

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view,

similar to FIG. 5, illustrating a modified form of the outlet nozzle that is provided with a hanger carrying the closure member that is operatively associated with the outer end of the suction tube incorporated therein;

FIG. 1() is a greatly enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the outlet nozzle, as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is another greatly enlarged fragmentary side "elevational view of the outlet nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 9 and and FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged end elevational view of the outlet nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, the railway hopper car 10 there illustrated and embodying the features of the present invention, is especially adapted for storage and transportation of finely divided or granular materials, such, for example, as flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like; and the car 10 comprises a rigid underframe including a longitudinally extending center sill 1 1; which underframe is supported adjacent to the opposite ends thereof by a pair of trucks 12 carrying track wheels 13 cooperating with an associated railway track, indicated at .14.

The underframe carries a body 20, including a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side walls 21 and 22, a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end walls 23, and a roof 24. Arranged within the body 20 are a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end dividing walls, one of which is shown at 25, and a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart intermediate d-ividing walls, one of which is shown at 27, three longitudinally spaced-apart dividing bridges, two of which are respectively shown at 31 and 32, and bottom wall structure cooperating to define therein six individual storage hoppers, two of which are respectively shown at 41 and 42 and two more of which are respectively shown at 43 and 44. In the arrangement, the three storage hoppers 41, 43, etc., are disposed in longitudinally spaced-apart relation on the side of the car 10 adjacent to the side wall 21,

while the three storage hoppers 42, 44, etc., are disposed in longitudinally spaced-apart relation on the side of the car 10 adjacent to the side wall 22. The two storage hoppers '41 and 42 are commonly defined by the side walls 21 and 22 and by the dividing walls 25 and 27 and are separated laterally from each other at the lower portions thereof by the longitudinally extending dividing bridge 31 disposed substantially centrally therebetween. Accordingly, the two storage hoppers 41 and 42 are defined as a laterally related pair in the right-hand end of the car 19, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In a similar manner, the pair of storage hoppers 43 and 44 are defined as a laterally related pair in the central portion of the carltl; and the other pair of storage hoppers, not shown, are defined as a laterally related pair in the left-hand end of the car 10.

Each of the storage hoppers 41, 42, etc., is provided with individual bottom wall structure having the general configuration of an inverted frusto pyramid and terminating in a bottom discharge outlet each carrying a surrounding substantially rectangular collar. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the downwardly tapered bottom wall structure of the individual storage hopper '41 terminates in the individual bottom discharge outlet 51 that is provided with the individual surrounding substantially rectangular collar 61, and the downwardly tapered bottom wall structure of the individual storage hopper 42 terminates in the individual bottom discharge outlet 52 that is provided with the individual surrounding substantially rectangular collar 62. In the arrangement, the bottom discharge outlets 51, etc., of the individual storage hoppers 41, etc., are disposed in a substantially horizontal common lower plane that is located well below the center sill 11 of the underframe of the car 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; which lower plane is positioned appropriately above the associated railway track :14, as established by the wheels 13 of the trucks 12, for the usual road bed clearance purpose. On the other hand, the dividing bridges 31, etc., positioned at the tops of the bottom structures of the six individual storage hoppers 41, etc., are positioned above the center sill 11, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the three individual storage hoppers 41, 43, etc., disposed on the side of the car '10 adjacent to the side wall 21 are respectively provided with three downwardly tapered bottom wall structures that are arranged between the center sill 11 and the adjacent side wall 21 of the car 10, while the three individual storage hoppers 42, 44, etc., disposed on the side of the car 10 adjacent to the side wall 22 are respectively provided with three downwardly tapered bottom wall structures that are arranged between the center sill 11 and the adjacent side wall 22 of the car 10.

The roof 24 carries a plurality of longitudinally spacedapart filling hatches 67 disposed on opposite sides thereof that respectively communicate with the individual ones of the storage hopper pairs 41, 42 and 43, 44, etc.; and each of the filling hatches 67 is provided with an individually associated removable hatch cover 68 normally arranged in sealed relation therewith.

Further, the body 20 of the car 10 is provided with six outlet nozzles 71, 72, 73, etc., respectively carried by the six collars 61, 6-2, 63, etc., and respectively communicating with the six bottom discharge outlets 51, '52, 53, etc., respectively provided in the six storage hoppers 41, 42, 43, etc. The six outlet nozzles 7-1, 72, etc., are of identical construction and arrangement; whereby only the outlet nozzle 71 has been shown in detail in FIGS. 4 to 8, in- 'clusive.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to'7, inclusive, the outlet nozzle 71 comprises a hollow casing 81 terminating in an open top 82 that is surrounded by an outwardly directed substantially rectangular collar '83 that is adapted to be removably secured in place below the substantially rectangular collar 61 carried by the bottom wall structure of the storage hopper 41 disposed in surrounding relation with respect to the bottom discharge outlet 51 thereinto. More particularly, the collar '83 is arranged immediately below the collar 61 with a sealing gasket 84 therebetween and is secured in place by a plurality of bolts 85 projecting through aligned openings respectively formed in the collars 61 and 83 and in the gasket 84 and respectively carrying cooperating nuts 86. Also, the casing 81 terminates in a bottom discharge opening 87 disposed directly below the top opening 82; which bottom discharge opening '87 is normally closed by an associated removable bottom cover 68. The cover 88 is normally retained in place by a pair of threaded studs 89' respectively carrying a pair of cooperating nuts 90. The inner ends of the studs 89 are respectively received in a cooperating pair of threaded openings provided in the bottom of the casing 81 and the intermediate portions of the stud 89 respectively project through cooperating openings provided in the bottom cover 88, and the outer ends of the threaded studs 89 respectively receive the nuts 90.

Further, the outlet nozzle 71 comprises a suction tube- 91 extending laterally therethrough and formed integrally with the casing 81; and preferably the casing 81 and the suction tube 91 comprise an integral metal casing formed of a suitable aluminum alloy. The suction tube 91 is disposed below the rectangular collar 83 carried by the top of the casing 81 and the opposite ends thereof extend well outwardly beyond the collar 83. More particularly, the suction tube 91 comprises an outer end 92a that is disposed adjacent to and below the side wall 21 and an inner end 92b that is disposed adjacent to and below the center sill 11. Both of the ends 92a and 92b are open, and one of them is adapted to serve as an air inlet opening into the suction tube 91, and the other of the-m is adapted to serve as an air outlet opening from the suction tube 91, as explained more fully hereinafter. The intermediate section of the suction tube 91 is disposed within the casing 81 and carries at the bottom thereof a communicating downwardly directed hood 93 terminating at the bottom thereof in a valve port 94 positioned directly above the bottom discharge opening 87 in the casing 81.

Also, a diaphragm 95 is arranged in the lower portion of the casing 81, and more particularly between the bottom of the casing 81 and the bottom cover 88. Specifically, the diaphragm 95 comprises a centrally disposed section 95a constituting a valve element with respect to the associated valve port 94, an outer marginal section 95b constituting a gasket element disposed between the bottom of the casing 81 and the top of the bottom cover 88, and a substantially rectangular intermediate section 95c constituting a flexible diaphragm proper element interconnecting the sections 95a and 9512. More particularly, the diaphragm 95 may be formed of a suitable sheet of rubber, or the like, and is arranged in covering relation with respect to the bottom discharge opening 87, the gasket element 95b thereof being clamped in place by the bottom cover 88 upon the bottom of the casing 81 in surrounding relation with the bottom discharge opening 87. Also, a metal reinforcing plate 96 is arranged below the lower side of the valve element 95a and the adjacent uper side of the bottom wall of the bottom cover 88; which metal reinforcing plate 96 is securely adhered to the adjacent lower surface of the valve element 95a for the purpose of preventing ballooning thereof into the bottom of the hood 93 through the valve port 94, when the valve element 95a. occupies its closed position with respect to the valve port 94, as explained more fully hereinafter.

Also, the diaphragm 96 cooperates with the bottom cover 88 to define a chamber 97 therebetween; which chamber 97 communicates with the lower portion of the casing 81 adjacent to the bottom discharge opening 87 via a restricted passage formed through the diaphragm proper element 95c. As best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, a hole 95d is formed through the diaphragm proper element 95c and located well outwardly from both the valve port 94 and the valve element 95aand positioned below the bottom of the intermediate section of the suc tion tube 91 disposed within the casing 81; and arranged within the hole 95d is a button-like plug 98 formed of porous material thereby to define the previously mentioned restricted passage between the lower portion of the casing 81 and the chamber 97 disposed below the diaphragm 95. More specifically, the button-like plug 98 may be formed of porous material selected from the class consisting of ceramic materials, plastic materials, and sintered metal oxide materials.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the interior of the storage hopper 41 is in communication through the bottom discharge outlet 51 with the interior of the casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71. In turn, the interior of the suction tube 91 communicates with the interior of the hood 93; and the interior of the hood 93 selectively communicates with the interior of the lower portion of the casing '81 through the valve port 94 depending upon the position of the valve element 95a. More particularly, the valve element 95a occupies a normal lower open position with respect to the valve port 94 when the diaphragm 96 occupies its normal lower position, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. On the other hand, the valve element 95a occupies an operated upper closed position with respect to the valve port 94, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6, when the diaphragm 96 occupies its actuated upper position. Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the valve element 95a occupies its open position with respect to the valve port 94, the bottom of the hood '93 is in open communication with the lower portion of the casing 81; and when the valve element 95a occupies its closed position with respect to the valve port 94, the communication between the bottom of the hood 93 and the interior of the casing 81 is cut-off or closed. Also, it will be understood that when the storage hopper 41 contains granular material, the same falls through the bottom discharge outlet 51 into the casing 8 1 and accumulates upon the upper surfaces of the valve element a and the diaphragm proper element 95c; whereby the valve element 95a and the diaphragm proper element 950 are subject to the weight of granular material in the casing 81 so long as there is granular material in the storage hopper 41, thereby to bias and to maintain the valve element 95a in its open position with respect to the valve port 94. As explained more fully hereinafter, the granular material from the storage hopper 41 is unloaded via the casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71 through the suction tube '91, the granular material proceeding from the casing 81 through the valve port 94, with the valve element 95a in its open position, and thence through the hood 93 into the suction tube 91. Of course, it will be understood that in this unloading operation, suction is maintained in one end of the suction tube 91 and conveying air is supplied at the other end of the suction tube 91. After all of the granular material has been unloaded from the storage hopper 41 and from the casing 81 of the associated outlet nozzle 71, continued suction in the suction tube 91 causes the valve element 95a to be operated from its lower open position with respect to the valve port 94 into its upper closed position with respect to the valve port '94 by virtue of a Bernoulli etfect that is produced in the lower portion of the casing 81 and between the valve element 95a and the bottom of the hood 93 in the immediate area of the valve port 94, as explained more fully below. Accordingly, it will be understood that in response to suction in the suction tube 91 and the consequent suction in the lower portion of the casing 81, after all of the granular material in the storage hopper 41 has been unloaded therefrom, the valve element 95a is automatically operated by the diaphragm proper element 950 from its open position into its closed position with respect to the valve port 94, whereby the communication between the interior of the suction tube 91 and the interior of the casing 81 is cut-off or closed.

More particularly, in the absence of suction in the suction tube 91, concurrently with or without granular material in the lower portion of the casing 81, the upper side of the valve element 95a and the upper side of the diaphragm proper element 950 and the hole 95d in the diaphragm proper element 950 are subject to atmospheric pressure so that the chamber 97 disposed below the diaphragm 95 is also subject to atmospheric pressure, with the result that the diaphragm proper element 950 is operated into its lower position moving the valve element 95a into its lower or open position with respect to the valve port 94 On the other hand, suction in the suction tube 91, concurrently with the presence of granular material in the lower portion of the casing 81, subjects the upper side of the valve element 95a and the upper side of the diaphragm proper element 95c and the hole 95d in the diaphragm proper element 95c to relatively low air pressure (substantially below atmospheric pressure) so that the chamber 97 is also subject to the relatively low air pressure, with the result that the diaphragm proper element 95c is operated into its "lower position moving the valve element 95a into its lower or open position with respect to the valve port 94. Still on the other hand, suction in the suction tube 91, concurrently with the absence of granular material in the lower portion of the casing 81, subjects the upper side of the valve element 95a to relatively low air pressure (substantially below atmospheric pressure), and subjects the upper side of the diaphragm proper element 950 and the hole 95d in the diaphragm proper element 95c to relatively high air pressure (only slightly below atmospheric pressure), so that the chamber 97 is also subject to the relatively high air pressure, with the result that the diaphragm proper element 950 is operated into its upper position moving the valve element 95a into its upper or closed position with respect to the valve port 94. Under the lastmentioned conditions, the upper side of the valve element 95a is subjected to the relatively low air pressure mentioned, while the upper side of the diaphragm proper element 950 is subjected to the relatively high air pressure mentioned by virtue of the Bernoulli effect as a consequence of the air rushing through the restricted orifice defined between the bottom of the hood 93 and the top side of the valve element 95a.

Moreover, the arrangement of the diaphragm proper element 950 not only constitutes mechanism for selectively actuating the valve element 95a between its open. and closed positions with respect to the valve port 94, as described above, but the provision of the porous plug 93 in the hole 95d formed through the diaphragm proper element 950 serves as an air check valve preventing sudden movements of the diaphragm proper element 950 between its upper and lower positions, thereby to prevent flutter of the valve element 95a between its closed and open pos1- tions with respect to the valve port 94.

Also, it will be understood that the granular material in the storage hopper 41 may be directly unloaded by gravity through the bottom discharge opening 87 in the casing 81 by the removal of the bottom cover 88 from its normal closed position with respect to the bottom discharge outlet 87. More particularly, the bottom cover 88 may be removed from covering relation with respect to the bottom discharge opening 87 by removal of one of the nuts 90 from the associated one of the threaded studs 89 and by loosening of the other of the nuts )6 with respect to the associated other threaded stud 89, the bottom cover 88 being rotated about the retaining one of the threaded studs 89 from its covering position with respect to the bottom discharge opening 87. Of course, this gravity unloading of the storage hopper 4-1 through the casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71, with the bottom cover 88 in its open position, is altogether independent of the pneumatic unloading thereof utilizing the suction tube 91, in the manner previously explained.

At this point, it is noted that the crest of the intermediate portion of the suction tube 91 extending longitudinally through the casing 801 of the outlet nozzle 71 is provided with a general pyramidal configuration in lateral section, as indicated at 91a, so as to facilitate the downward slide of the granular material from the storage hopper 41 through the casing 81 and regardless of whether pneumatic unloading or gravity unloading of the granular material through the outlet nozzle 71 is employed.

As previously noted, the storage hoppers 41 and 42 constitute a laterally related pair, whereby the respectively cooperating outlet nozzles 71 and 72 are disposed in lateral alignment with each other and are interconnected by a cooperating pipe 1% extending laterally therebetween, as best shown in FIG. 3. More particularly, the inner end 92b of the outlet nozzle 71 is connected to the corresponding inner end of the outlet nozzle 72 by the laterally extending pipe 100 extending therebetween, the pipe 100 extending below the center sill 11, as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The outer end 92a of the outlet nozzle 71 constitutes a fixture disposed adjacent to and below the side wall 21 of the body 20 and is adapted removably to carry a do sure member, indicated at 110' in FIG. 3, and shown in some detail in FIG. 4; which closure member 110 is of the quick attachment-detachment type and may be of the construction and arrangement of that sold commercially under the name Kamlok by the OPW Corporation.

More particularly, as best shown in FIG. 4, the outer end 92a of the suction tube 91 incorporated in the outlet nozzle 71 removably carries the closure member 111} that constitutes a cap for the extreme outer end thereof; which closure member 110 carries a pair of diametrically opposed locking cams 111 pivotally secured thereto and cooperating with an annular groove 112 provided in the exterior surface of the outer end 92a of the suction tube 8 91. In the arrangement, the pair of lockingcams'lll respectively terminate in a pair of outwardly directed handles 113 accommodating ready rotation of the locking cams 111 about their pivot pins, as indicated at 114; whereby the locking cams 111 may be readily actuated into respective locking and interlocking positions with respect to the annular groove 112. Also, a sealing-gasket 115 is carried in the end of the closure member 110 so as to seal the open outer end 92a-of the suction tube 92 when theclosure member 110 occupies its-normal closing position. Further, the outer end of the closure member 110 carries a tab 116 that is adapted to cooperate with a pair of bails or rings 117 respectively carried by the handles 113; whereby the handles 113 may be sealed in their operated positions actuating the locking cams 111 into their locked positions with respect to the annular groove 112 provided in the outer end 92a of the suction tube 91.

Of course, it will be understood that the outer endof each of the outlet nozzles 71, etc., normally carries one of the closure members 110 of the type described above in conjunction with FIG. 4. Furthermore, the outer end of each of the outlet nozzles 71, etc., is adapted detachably to receive a collar 120 that is carried upon a suction conduit 121, as indicated in FIG. 3; which collar 120 is also of the quick attachment-detachment type and may be of the fundamental construction and arrangement as that of the closure member 110, as previously described in conjunction with FIG. 4.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the pair of storage hoppers 41 and 42 may be simultaneously unloaded pneumatically from either side of the car 10 after removal of the closure members 110 from the outer ends of the outlet nozzles 71 and 72 and upon attachment of the collar 120 of the suction conduit 121 to the outer end of the corresponding one of the outlet nozzles 71 or 72. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that the pair of storage hoppers 41 and 42 may be readily unloaded from the side of the car 10 adjacent to the side wall 22 by attachment of the collar 120 to the outer end of the outlet nozzle 72, after the removal of the associated closure member 110. Also, the closure member 110' normally carried by the outer end of the outlet nozzle 71 is removed therefrom in order to accommodate the supply of conveying air into the outer end of the suction tube 91 of the outlet nozzle 71. Furthermore, at this time, one or more of the hatch covers 68 are removed from the associated hatches 67 so as to admit conveying air into the open tops of the storage hoppers 41 and 42. At this time, operation of the suction machine, not shown, that is operatively associated with the suction conduit 121 produces suction in the outlet nozzle 72 and consequently suction is produced in the outlet nozzle 71 through the pipe 100 interconnecting the inner ends of the outlet nozzles 71 and 72. The suction condition mentioned effects the flow of conveying air from the exterior into the outer end of the outlet nozzle 71 and therethrough via the pipe 100 and through the outlet nozzle 72 into the suction conduit 121. This suction in the suction conduit 121 effects unloading of the storage hoppers 41 and 42 through the respective bottom discharge outlets 51 and 52 and through the respective outlet nozzles 71 and 72 since the valve element in each of the outlet nozzles 71 and 72 occupies its open position at this time, as previously explained. Accordingly, the pair of storage hoppers 41 and 42 are simultaneously unloaded into the suction conduit 121.

When either one of the pair of storage hoppers 41 or 4-2 is completely unloaded, the valve element in the associated outlet nozzle 71 or 72 is operated into its closed position with respect to the valve port in the associated suction tube, in the manner previously explained, thereby to cut-01f the communication between the empty storage hopper 41 or 42 and the connected suction conduit 121, so that the granular material in the other of the storage hoppers 41 or 42 may be subsequently completely unloaded. When both of the storage hoppers 41 and 42 connected to the suction conduit 121 are unloaded, both of the valve elements incorporated in the outlet nozzles 71 and 72 are operated into their closed positions with respect to the valve ports in the associated suction tubes incorporated in the outlet nozzles 71 and 72; whereby the suction machine, not shown, may be shut-down and the collar 120 of the suction conduit 121 may be disconnected from the outer end of the outlet nozzle 72. At this time, the closure members 110 are ordinarily returned back into their closed positions with respect to the outlet nozzles 71 and 72.

In view of the foregoing description of the unloading of the pair of storage hoppers 41 and 42 with the collar 120 of the suction conduit 121 connected to the outer end of the outlet nozzle 72, it will be understood that this pair of storage hoppers may be unloaded in a substantially identical manner with the collar 124) of the suction tube 121 connected to the outer end of the outlet nozzle 71. In other words, the pair of storage hoppers 41 and 42 may be selectively unloaded from either side of the car in a ready and simple manner.

Moreover, it will be appreciated that the unloading of the pair of storage hoppers 43 and 44 disposed in the central portion of the body 21 and the unloading of the other pair of storage hoppers disposed in the left-hand end of the body 20, as indicated in FIG. 1, may be carried out in a substantially identical manner from either side of the car 10 after connection of the collar 120 to the appropriate one of the outlet nozzles 73, etc., in the manner explained above.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the three pairs of storage hoppers defined in the body 211 may be simultaneously unloaded from either side of the car 10 by the connection of three of the suction conduits 121 to the three corresponding ones of the outlet nozzles 71, etc., in an obvious manner; and at this point, it is noted that it is common practice at an unloading station to provide a plurality of suction unloading machines and a corresponding plurality of suction conduits 121; whereby simultaneous unloading of the three pairs of storage hoppers incorporated in the body 20' of the railway hopper car 10 may be readily carried out.

Again referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it is pointed out that each of the outlet nozzles 71, etc., is self-regulating with respect to the rate of supply of the granular material from the associated storage hopper 41, etc., into the connected suction conduit. This action may be readily understood in conjunction with the mode of operation of the outlet nozzle 71, assuming that the collar 12% of the suction conduit 121 is connected to the outer end 92a of the suction tube 91 incorporated in the outlet nozzle 71, and further assuming that a suction condition exists in the suction conduit 121. In this case, the flow of the granular material through the suction tube 91 is from the right-hand or inner end 92]) thereof toward the left-hand or outer end 92a thereof, as shown in FIG. 6; and in the event substantial granular material is being supplied into the conveying system from the preceding storage hopper 42, there will be substantial movement of the granular material through the suction tube 91 from the inner end 9211 thereof toward the outer end 92a thereof, with the result that there will be substantial movement of the granular material over the top of the hood 93 so that the suction effected througth the hood 93 into the lower portion of the casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71 is correspondingly reduced. This reduction of the suction in the hood 93 correspondingly reduces the rate at which granular material is added into the conveying system from the storage hopper 41 through the casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71. Accordingly, the arrangement renders the outlet nozzle 71 self-regulating with respect to the rate of supply of granular material from the storage hopper 41 into the conveying system. This same regulation takes place substantially in a similar 10 manner in the outlet nozzle 72 carried by the storage hopper 42 and also connected to the conveying system. Of course, the same regulation takes place in each of the other outlet nozzles 73, etc., in the other two conveying systems incorporated in the body 20 of the car 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 12, inclusive, a modified form of the outlet nozzle 271 is there illustrated that is substantially identical to the outlet nozzle 71, as described above, in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, except that the outlet nozzle 271 carries a hanger 3% for supporting the associated closure member 1111 thereby to prevent loss of the closure member 119 after removal thereof from the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291 incorporated in the outlet nozzle 271. More particularly, the hanger 300 comprises a casting that is preferably formed of a suitable aluminum alloy. The one end of the hanger 300 terminates in a barrel 301 and the other end thereof terminates in a, slotted cross slide 30 2. The barrel 301 is rotatably mounted upon a bolt 3113 that is secured in place upon a depending lug 283a that is carried by one end of the rectangular flange 283 surrounding the open top of the casing 281 of the outlet nozzle 271, the shank of the bolt 303 eX- tending through the opening provided in the barrel 301 and through an aligned opening provided in the depending lug 233a and the extreme inner end of the shank of the bolt 3113 carrying a cooperating nut 304.

The top of the closure member is securely anchored in place in the cross slot 302:: provided in the cross slide 392 by an arrangement including a headed pin 3135, the shank of the pin 3G5 extending through the cross slot 302a, and the inner end of the shank of the pin 365 being suitably anchored in a hole provided in the adjacent top portion of the closure member 110. Thus it will be appreciated that the closure member 110 may be selectively moved laterally With respect to the cross slide 392 into respective closing and opening positions with respect to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291 incorporated in the outlet nozzle 271. Also, after the closure member 110 has been moved into open or uncovering relation with respect to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291, the hanger 3410 may be rotated at the barrel 3M about the bolt 3413 thereby selectively to move the closure member 119 into and out of alignment with the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In view of the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of the hanger 300, it will be understood that when the granular material is to be unloaded from the associated storage hopper through the outlet nozzle 271, the handles carried by the closure member 110 are actuated to release the associated cam mechanism, whereupon the closure member 110 may be readily slid outwardly with respect to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291, this sliding movement of the closure member 110 being accommodated by the pin 305 cooperating with the cross slot 302a provided in the cross slide 302. After the closure member 110 has been thus removed from covering relation with respect to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291, the hanger 390 carrying the closure member 110 may be pivoted upwardly, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12, thereby to move the closure member 110 completely out of the Way with respect to the open outer end 292a of the suction tube 291; whereby at this time, the collar 12%) carried by the suction conduit 121 may be readily attached to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291 for the unloading purpose.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the return of the closure member 11! back into its closed position with respect to the outer end 292a of the suction tube 291 is substantially identical to that described above, the manipulations being carried out in a reverse order.

The arrangement of the hanger 300 carried by the outlet nozzle 271 is very advantageous, as it positively 11 prevents loss of the closure member 11% from the outlet nozzle 271 incident to the manipulations involved in the unloading of the associated storage hopper through the outlet nozzle 271.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has 'been provided in a railway hopper car for storing and transporting granular material, an unloading system of improved construction and arrangement incorpo rating outlet nozzles that include automatically operated valves for selectively controlling the communication between the casings thereof and the suction tubes thereof in response'to respective loaded and unloaded conditions of the connected storage hoppers. Also, the railway hopper car incorporates an improved unloading system, wherein each of the plurality of storage hoppers provided therein may be selectively unloaded either upon a gravity basis or upon a pneumatic basis. Furthermore, each of the outlet nozzles incorporates closure member and hanger structure of improved and simplified construction and arrangement, accommodating ready manipulation of the closure member between its open and closed positions with respect to the associated suction tube incorporated in the outlet nozzle incident to an unloading operation.

While t-here has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car for transporting granular material, a longitudinally extending body, structure defining a pair of laterally spaced-apart storage hoppers in said body and respectively provided with a pair of laterally spacedapart bottom discharge outlets, a pair of laterally spacedapart outlet nozzles respectively carried by said storage hoppers, each of said outlet nozzles including a casing disposed below the bottom outlet in the associated one of said storage hoppers and communicating therewith, each of said outlet nozzles also including a suction tube extending laterally through the lower portion of the associated casing for unloading the granular material from the associated one of said storage hoppers, the intermediate section of each of said tubes being disposed within the associated casing and having a valve port provided in the bottom thereof, each of said outlet nozzles further including a valve element aranged in the lower portion of the associated casing below the associated valve port and cooperating therewith, whereby the interior of each of said tubes is in communication with the lower portion of the associated casing when the associated valve element occupies its open position with respect to the asso ciated valve port and'the interior of each of said tubes is cut-off from communication with the lower portion of the associated casing when the associated valve element occupies its closed position with respect to the associated valve port, each of said outlet nozzles further including actuating means for selectively operating the associated valve element between its open and closed positions with respect to the associated valve port, each of said valve elements being operated by the associated actuating means into its open position with respect to the associated valve port in response to the presence of granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppets, each of said valve elements being operated by the associated actuating means into its closed position with respect to the associated valve port jointly in response to suction in the associated tube and to the absence of granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppers, a transversely extending pipe interconnecting the inner ends of said tubes, a pair of fixtures respectively carried by the outer ends of said tubes and respectively arranged adjacent to the opposite sides of said body, and a pair of closure members respectively removably carried 12 by said fixtures, each of said fixtures being adapted to be connected to a suction conduit, whereby conveying air may be supplied from the outside into one of said fixtures after removal of the associated closure member and then passed through said tubes in series relation and thence conducted from the other of said fixtures after removal of the associated closure member into the suction conduit connected to said other fixture with the result that the granular material in said storage hoppers is unloaded therefrom into said respective casings and proceeds therefrom through said respective valve ports with said respective valve elements in their open positions and into said respective tubes and is thus conveyed with the conveying air passing therethrough into the suction conduit connected to said other fixture.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said actuating means essentially comprises a diaphragm arranged in the lower portion of the associated casing and subject to the suction pressure therein and also subject to the weight of granular material in the associated casing so long as there is granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppers to be unloaded therefrom, each of said diaphragms being biased into a normal lower position to actuate the associated valve element into its open position, each of said diaphragrns being moved into an upper position in response to suction in the lower portion of the associated casing after all of the granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppers has been unloaded therefrom through the associated casing into the associated tube to actuate the associated valve element into its closed position.

3. The railway car set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said fixtures is of the quick attachment-detachment type accommodating ready placement and removal of either the associated closure member or the associated suction conduit.

4. The railway car set forth in claim 1, wherein the casing and the tube and the fixture of each of said nozzles comprises an integral metal casting.

5. The railway car set forth in claim :1, and further comprising a pair of links respectively connecting said body and said closure members, each of said links accommodating ready placement and ready removal of the associated closure member with respect to the associated fixture and preventing loss of the associated closure memher from said body after removal thereof from the associated fixture.

6. In a railway car for transporting granular material,

a longitudinally extending body, structure defining a pair of laterally spaced-apart storage hoppers in said body and respectively provided with a pair of laterally spacedapart bottom discharge outlets, a pair of laterally spacedapart outlet nozzles respectively carried by said storage hoppers, each of said outlet nozzles including a casing disposed below the bottom outlet in the associated one of said storage hoppers and communicating therewith, each of said outlet nozzles also including a suction tube extending laterally through the lower portion of the associated casing for unloading the granular material from the associated one of said storage hoppers, the intermediate section of each of said tubes being disposed within the associated casing and having a valve port provided in the bottom thereof, each of said outlet nozzles further including a valve element arranged in the lower portion of the associated casing below the associated valve port and cooperating therewith, whereby the interior of each of said tubes is in communication with the lower portion of the associated casing when the associated valve element occupies its open position with respect to the associated valve port and the interior of each of said tubes is cut-off from communication with the lower portion of the associated casing when the associated valve element occupies its closed position with respect to the associated valve port, each of said outlet nozzles further including actuating means for selectively operating the associated valve element between its open and closed positions with re spect to the associated valve port, each of said valve elements being operated by the associated actuating means into its open position with respect to the associated valve port in response to the presence of granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppers, each of said valve elements being operated by the associated actuating means into its closed position with respect to the associated valve port jointly in response to suction in the associated tube and to the absence of granular material in the associated one of said storage hoppers, a transversely extending pipe interconnecting the inner ends of said tubes, a pair of fixtures respectively carried by the outer ends of said tubes and respectively arranged adjacent to the opposite sides of said body, a pair of closure members respectively cooperating with said fixtures, and a pair of hangers respectively carried by said nozzles and respectively carrying said closure members, each of said hangers accommodating both ready placement and ready removal of the associated closure member with respect to the associated fixture and preventing loss of the associated closure member from the associated no zzle after removal thereof from the associated fixture, each of said fixtures being adapted to be connected to a suction conduit, whereby conveying air may be supplied from the outside into one of said fixtures after removal of the associated closure member and then passed through said tubes in series relation and thence conducted from the other of said fixtures after removal of the associated closure member into the suction conduit connected to said other fixture with the result that the granular material in said storage hoppers is unloaded therefrom into said respective casings and proceeds therefrom through said respective valve ports with said respective valve elements in their open positions and into said respective tubes and is thus conveyed with the conveying air passing therethrough into the suction conduit connected to said other fixture.

No references cited. 

1. IN A RAILWAY CAR FOR TRANSPORTING GRANULAR MATERIAL, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BODY, STRUCTURE DEFINING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED-APART STORAGE HOPPERS IN SAID BODY AND RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACEDAPART BOTTOM DISCHARGE OUTLETS, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACEDAPART OUTLET NOZZLES RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY SAID STORAGE HOPPERS, EACH OF SAID OUTLET NOZZLES INCLUDING A CASING DISPOSED BELOW THE BOTTOM OUTLET IN THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID STORAGE HOPPERS AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID OUTLET NOZZLES ALSO INCLUDING A SUCTION TUBE EXTENDING LATERALLY THROUGH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CASING FOR UNLOADING THE GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID STORAGE HOPPERS, THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF EACH OF SAID TUBES BEIGN DISPOSED WITHIN THE ASSOCIATED CASING AND HAVING A VALVE PORT PROVIDED IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, EACH OF SAID OUTLET NOZZLES FURTHER INCLUDING A VALVE ELEMENT ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CASING BELOW THE ASSOCIATE VALVE PORT AND COOPERATING THEREWITH, WHEREBY THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID TUBES IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CASING WHEN THE ASSOCIATED VALVE ELEMENT OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED VALVE PORT AND THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID TUBES IS CUT-OFF FROM COMMUNICATION WITH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CASING WHEN THE ASSOCIATED VALVE ELEMENT OCCUPIES ITS CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED VALVE PORT, EACH OF SAID OUTLET NOZZLES FURTHER INCLUDING ACTUATING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING THE ASSOCIATED VALVE ELEMENT BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED VALVE PORT, EACH OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BEIGN OPERATED BY THE ASSOCIATED ACTUATING MEANS INTO ITS OPEN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCAITED VALVE PORT IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESENCE OF GRANULAR MATERIAL IN THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID STORAGE HOPPERS, EACH OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BEING OPERATED BY THE ASSOCIATED ACTUATING MEANS INTO ITS CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED VALVE PORT JOINTLY IN RESPONSE TO SUCTION IN THE ASSOCIATED TUBE AND TO THE ABSENCE OF GRANULAR MATERIAL IN THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID STORAGE HOPPERS, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PIPE INTERCONNECTING THE INNER ENDS OF SAID TUBES, A PAIR OF FIXTURES RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID TUBES AND RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED ADJACENT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY, AND A PAIR OF CLOSURE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID FIXTURES, EACH OF SAID FIXTURES BEING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SUCTION CONDUIT, WHEREBY CONVEYING AIR MAY BE SUPPLIED FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO ONE OF SAID FIXTURE AFTER REMOVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED CLOSURE MEMBER AND THEN PASSED THROUGH SAID TUBES IN SERIES RELATION AND THENCE CONDUCTED FROM THE OTHER OF SAID FIXTURES AFTER REMOVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED CLOSURE MEMBER INTO THE SUCTION CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER FIXTURE WITH THE RESULT THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IN SAID STORAGE HOPPERS IS UNLOADED THEREFROM INTO SAID RESPECTIVE CASINGS AND PROCEEDS THEREFROM THROUGH SAID RESPECTIVE VALVE PORTS WITH SAID RESPECTIVE VALVE ELEMENTS IN THEIR OPEN POSITIONS AND INTO SAID RESPECTIVE TUBES AND IS THUS CONVEYED WITH THE CONVEYING AIR PRESSURE THERETHROUGH INTO THE SUCTION CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER FIXTURE. 